ICHE URGENT ACTION ALERT #1

FROM: Idaho Coalition of Home Educators
SUBJECT: NOW IS TIME TO ACT

The effort to amend Idaho's Constitution to protect marriage has begun.

In concert with Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), the board of the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators supports the Marriage Amendment as fundamental to protecting traditional marriage in Idaho and as a positive foundation for home educating families.

The text of the amendment is simple: "A marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state."

Amending our state constitution is more difficult than simply passing a new statute. The bill needs to win approval in the State Affairs Committees in both the House and the Senate. The bill must also pass in the full House and the full Senate with a 2/3 majority vote in each. After approval by the legislature, the amendment will only then be placed on the ballot where it must be approved by at least half of the voters. The bill is currently headed for the House committee hearing.

Opposition to this bill is well-funded, well-organized, and responsive. Some legislators have reportedly received more calls opposing the Marriage Amendment than calls supporting it.

IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND FRIENDS CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY IN SUPPORT THE MARRIAGE AMENDMENT.

The goal is for each Representative is to receive hundreds of messages by Friday, February 3rd. Each member of your family may send separate email and telephone messages. Please do not contact your Senator at this time. We will send you an alert when it is time to do so.

Copies of your emails will automatically be forwarded to Representative Denney, the sponsor of the bill, for tally purposes only.

To contact your two Representatives by FAX: (208) 334-5397.
All correspondence to your Representatives must include your complete address. Please also include your phone number and email address. Fax copies of your messages to Representative Denney, the bill's sponsor for tally purposes.

Please follow these guidelines for your message:

Always be polite and courteous. Thank your Representative for his or her service in the House.

Marriage and family are the basic foundational building blocks of civilization and must not be weakened.

The amendment is needed to give marriage the maximum protection from activist judges.

Same-sex marriage would be an extreme redefinition and departure from traditional marriage.

To contact your Representatives by TELEPHONE: Call the Legislative switchboard at (208) 332-1000 or toll free at 1-800-626-0471 and leave a single message to be delivered to your two Representatives, and to Representative Denney, the bill's sponsor. Tell the operator that you live in the Representatives' district, then ask them to "Please vote for Marriage Amendment HJR2." Do not call your Representatives at home.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD! PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO PROTECT MARRIAGE AND FAMILY IN IDAHO!

Please forward this message to all of your acquaintances whom you believe would support this bill. If this message was forwarded to you and you would like to receive future alerts directly, please go to the ICHE website at www.iche-idaho.org to sign up for our email alert service.

In order to provide the most effective email services, we are using the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) legislative mail system. In keeping with our commitment to preserve your confidentiality, our address list has not been shared with HSLDA or any other organization.